Open with a time of Thanksgiving and Praise, above all ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit in this time of Thanksgiving and Praise. Psalms 100:4, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.”
- Praise and worship God for who He is
- Spend time worshiping and praising God by reading the words, or singing songs unto God. Photo copy some songs from a hymnal at church, google the name of the song on the Internet, recite or sing from memory.
Spend time in Repentance and Confession, above all ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit in this time of Repentance and Confession. Psalms 66:18, “If I regard wickedness (sin) in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
- Confess sins of Attitude and Thought, 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to, “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Ask yourself the following questions: Are there unclean or lustful thoughts, thoughts that are consumed with earthly pursuits, thoughts of anger and bitterness, unloving thoughts, thoughts of fear and doubt, attitudes of pride and prejudice, attitudes of Lukewarmness toward God, etc…
- Confess sins of Speech, Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, that EVERY idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.” Ask yourself the following questions: Do you use coarse or profane words, gossip, slander, unkind or unloving words to or about others, do you use speech that is overly critical, do you speak words that are exaggerations or untruths, do you speak when you should be quiet, etc…
- Confess sins of Relationships, Matthew 5:23-24, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Ask yourself the following questions: Can you think of people you may have hurt or offended in some manner? Are you bitter or holding grudges against people who have offended you? Are you involved in any improper relationships? Do you neglect regular fellowship and meaningful service through your church? Are your family relationships consistent with God’s Word?
- Confess sins of Commission and Transgressions, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Ask yourself the following questions: Are you involved in adultery, fornication, stealing or dishonesty, assaulting someone, going to sinful places, watching adult rated movies, destructive habits like smoking-drinking-overeating-eating unhealthy foods; reading unclean literature, putting recreation or material things ahead of God, idolatry, financial dishonesty, cheating employers, etc…
- Confess sins of omission, James 4:17, “Therefore to him who knows the right thing to do, and yet does not do it, to him it is a sin.” Ask yourself the following questions: Are you neglecting daily Bible reading and prayer time alone with God, failing to be a daily witness, failure to tithe, neglecting regular worship, refusing to use your spiritual gifts to honor God, etc…
Spend time in Personal Petition, above all ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit through this time of Personal Petition. Psalms 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
- The word “Christian” literally means “little Christ,” we are to be Christ-like in all we do. Our thoughts, attitude, actions, words, behavior, decisions, relationships, stewardship of all we have (time, talents, gifts, resources, etc…), service, generosity, compassion, etc…
- Spend time fully surrendering yourself unto “El Roi” (pronounced el ROY) The God Who Sees me
- As you reveal the desires of your heart to God in petition, focus not so much on temporal needs (physical problems, general emotional needs personal desires, financial or job concerns, school needs, etc…)(bring these things to God, but don’t allow them to be the MAIN focus of your petitions) focus on Kingdom-oriented things (living your life totally surrendered to God, taking every thought captive, being filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit, living the fruits of the Spirit daily, living the Beatitudes daily, etc…)
Spend time in Intercession for others, above all ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit through this time of Intercession. Ezekiel 22:30, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make a hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.”
- Think about your church, what would happen if everyone over the age of 60 were suddenly gone, and would not return? Who would gather on Sunday morning, evening, Wednesday evening? Pretty sad picture isn’t it? In today’s church there is a missing “age group” and that is the young adult. Too often the young adult is more concerned about making a living, moving up the “ladder”, building a “nest-egg” rather than live for God. The Bible is clear that we are to provide for our families, but it also teaches that anything that gets in the way of serving and living for God is an IDOL, and too often we chase idols as young adults. Too often the young adults “assumes” God will be there later in life and “church things” will wait. Pray for the young adults in your church today, pray like this:
- Pray that the young adults as well as the already active believers will become excited about their personal INVOLVEMENT in the Body of Christ and demand the right and time to worship (other religious groups demand time to worship, why don’t Christians?).
- Pray that employers will afford believers time off to worship and if possible close on Sunday (some industry cannot close—health care-police-fire-EMT etc…).
- Pray that mighty conviction would come upon the young adult because of their complacency and lack of urgency in living for God daily. Pray that the young adult would fall in love with the Word of God; cherish time alone with God in fervent, consistent, private and corporate prayer and worship.
- Pray that the young adult would become a mighty lighthouse, witnessing daily to others about the activities of God in their own lives. Pray for many laborers of young adults that will usher in a great harvest for the Kingdom of God.
- Pray for young adults to “hear” the call of God on their lives and that MANY will surrender to ministry. Pray that God would raise up pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, Sunday School teachers, deacons, worship leaders, etc… The churches of the world need such laborers, especially in the next 5—10—15—20 years, and ultimately until Christ returns!
- Take a church directory and pray over everyone in the directory, praise God for the young adults involved in the body of Christ today!
Spend time in Meditation, above all ask God to guide you through the Holy Spirit through this time of Meditation. Psalms 1:1-3, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
- Read God’s Word Daily at this point and as you read, ask God to speak to your heart
- When you have completed your daily time of prayer and Bible reading, write down in a journal key ideas and thoughts and impressions
- Fill your life with the Word of God. The more you pray and read, the more He will speak to you and transform your life
- When you pray, be sensitive to God’s specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern. Know that God is speaking to you as you pray and read and listen.